Tesla’s China Edition Model 3 Performance Has A Special Set Of Wheels

A selection of images of the Chinese-specification Tesla Model 3 Performance has surfaced online in the People’s Republic.

The images were first shared by Twitter user JainShanghai and reveal that the sports sedan comes equipped with a set of wheels distinctive from those of the U.S.-spec Model 3 Performance.

At 19-inches, these alloy rims, dubbed the Power Sports wheels, are slightly smaller than the 20-inch shoes of the North American models. Not only do the Power Sports wheels have a different spoke design but they also feature exposed lug nuts and make do without center caps. However, it is likely that the center caps simply weren’t fitted on these units as they were being transported. The official renderings in the gallery below show the new wheels with the aero caps installed.

Beyond the wheels, it doesn’t seem as though Tesla Model 3 Performance vehicles bound for China are any different than those sold elsewhere. If that is indeed the case, the potent sedan comes outfitted with a pair of electric motors delivering an impressive 450 hp. This is enough grunt to leave European rivals like the Mercedes-AMG C63 and BMW M3 in the dust.

While deliveries of the Model 3 Dual Motor and Model 3 Performance have kicked off in China, local customers won’t get their hands on the Standard Range variant until mid-2019 at the earliest.

The arrival of the Tesla Model 3 Performance in China comes about a month after the electric automaker cut local prices of the Model 3 by 7.6 per cent in response to declining sales.

Earlier this month, Tesla broke ground at its 860,000-square-meter facility in Shanghai. Dubbed Gigafactory 3, this facility will start building the Model 3 before the end of the year and start building the Model Y crossover in 2020.

Very first Chinese Tesla Model 3 Performance arrived on Chinese port yesterday. Leaked photo by Tencent Motor News Site. For customers or for Tesla China, what do you think comment below? #Tesla #TeslaChina #Model3Performance pic.twitter.com/lQL35ftOPM

— JayinShanghai (@ShanghaiJayin) January 22, 2019

PART 2: Very first Chinese Tesla Model 3 Performance arrived on Chinese port yesterday. Leaked photo by Tencent Motor News Site. For customers or for Tesla China, what do you think comment below? #Tesla #TeslaChina #Model3Performance pic.twitter.com/WE0PEXZRxE

— JayinShanghai (@ShanghaiJayin) January 22, 2019